Powering financial transaction token with onboard power source

ABSTRACT

There is provided a card or token for use in financial transactions. The financial transaction token or card has an onboard energy storage device that enables onboard electronics to operate when the card is not in the proximity of a merchant Point-Of-Service (POS) terminal. In one implementation, the onboard energy storage device includes a capacitor such as a thin-film capacitor that stores sufficient energy to power onboard electronics without the need for an onboard battery. The card may be incorporated within various conventional apparatus such as a see-through and/or protective substrate, an item of clothing, an item of jewelry, a cell phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a credit card, an identification card, a money holder, a wallet, a personal organizer, a keychain payment tag, and like personality.

BACKGROUND

Increasingly, consumers have come to rely on debit, credit, and storedvalue cards as a preferred vehicle to provide payment for transactions.Credit cards provide ready access to funds, offer financial protectionsuperior to cash or checks, support loyalty programs, and allowconsumers to take advantage of purchasing opportunities when funds maynot be otherwise available. As debit and stored value cards have becomeincreasingly popular, the need for consumers to carry cash or checkbooksis still further reduced.

Within the past few years, card associations and issuers have beenproviding transaction cards that are enhanced with features beyond thetypical embossed account number, expiration date, cardholder name, andsignature area. “Smart cards,” for example, have now come into popularuse, and allow for enhanced security of both debit and credit cards byuse of onboard integrated circuits to provide memory and optionalmicroprocessor functionality. Smart cards and other enhanced or memorycards or tokens have found uses from replacements for simple embossedcredit/debit cards, toll booth payment, ATM card replacements, and evenSubscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards in cellular handsets.

Even though smart cards and electronics enhanced cards have providedimprovements over traditional credit cards, they suffer from a number ofdeficiencies. For example, electronics circuitry on enhanced financialtransaction cards must receive externally-provided power to operate. Toobtain power from a merchant's financial or Point-Of-Service (POS)terminal, contact-type smart cards use a physical connector interface;two of such interfaces are defined ISO standards 7810 and 7816. However,many types of cards not in physical contact with a POS terminal or otherpower source cannot operate, and therefore these cards are necessarilyinactive at all other times. Alternatively, some enhanced financialtransaction cards obtain power from a terminal-generated RFelectromagnetic field by way of an inductor that is part of the card'scircuitry. For example. ISO 14443 defines a popular contactlessfinancial transaction card protocol. However, current contactless cardsmust be in close proximity to the properly modulated electromagneticfield in order to operate (10 cm in the case of ISO 14443 compliantcards). Due to the intentionally limited power and range of such shortrange fields, RF-powered cards cannot operate outside of the Immediatearea of a merchant's POS terminal, and may not have sufficient power insome cases to provide sophisticated electronic computations or supportmore power consuming circuitry such as displays. Further, embedded chipsof some contactless smart cards often employ cryptographic securityalgorithms that can be “cracked” or decoded if the time and electricalcurrent required for certain encryption or decryption operations ismeasured. Several demonstrations of this mode of account compromise havebeen documented, and thus, the possibility of surreptitious measurementof such parameters without knowledge of the cardholder (although theynot represent a security risk to the payment system) presents asignificant security risk at the individual card level.

What is needed then is a financial transaction card or token thatprovides an onboard power source. What is further needed is a financialtransaction card or token that has an onboard power source that does notutilize the hazardous chemicals associated with typical power sourcessuch as replaceable or rechargeable batteries. What is also needed is afinancial transaction card or token that has a power source that isrechargeable and has a form factor that may be used with common creditcard form factors. What is further needed is a financial transactiontoken with electronic circuitry that can operate in an environmentsignificantly removed from a POS terminal. What is also needed is afinancial transaction token that utilizes an onboard power source toprovide cryptographic security and protect the token when not in use.What is still further needed is a financial transaction token that mayreprogram itself using an onboard power source to encode a variety oftypes of account information, thereby allowing for payment flexibilityof the financial transaction token. What is also needed is a financialtransaction token that allows the holder to view information stored inthe token without being in proximity to a POS terminal. What is furtherneeded is a financial transaction token that provides for a backup powersource to preserve function or memory status when a primary onboardpower source has been discharged. What is also needed is a financialtransaction token that automatically senses the presence of an externalpower source, and switches between the internal power source andexternal power source as the external power becomes available orunavailable.

SUMMARY

There is provided an apparatus for a token to complete financialtransactions. The financial transaction token or card has an onboardenergy storage device that enables onboard electronics to operate whenthe token or card is not in the proximity of a merchant terminal (e.g.;a POS terminal). In one implementation, the onboard energy storagedevice includes a capacitor such as a thin-film capacitor that storessufficient energy to power the token's onboard electronics without theneed for an onboard battery. The financial transaction token may beincorporated within an apparatus such as a plastic substrate, an item ofclothing, an item of jewelry, a cell phone, a PDA, a credit card, anidentification card, a money holder, a wallet, a personal organizer,purse, a briefcase, or a keychain payment tag.

In one implementation, the financial transaction token includes acapacitor that energizes the token's electronics circuitry. The userinterface optionally has an exposed region for encoding data includingan account to pay for a transaction. The encoding renders data inseveral alternate or complementary formats, such as light-orlaser-scannable bar coding on a display, electromagnetic signals thatare transmitted to a merchant receiver, external contact pads for acontact-based pickup, and a magnetic stripe assembly. In oneimplementation, the token is reprogrammable by the holder by inputtinginformation to a user interface, and a processor in the token acceptsthe information and runs software in a processor located within thetoken. This reprogrammable feature enables the holder of the token tosecure the token by erasing a display or magnetic stripe or locking thetoken from unauthorized use. The token, when access is granted, mayperform calculations such as adding a tip from a predetermined tippercentage, or selecting payment to occur from a variety of differentfinancial accounts. In one implementation, a magnetic stripe assembly inproximity to the token is reprogrammable, so that the processor mayselect a particular account from user input, and provide instructions toreprogram the magnetic stripe. The reprogrammed stripe may then beswiped through a conventional merchant magnetic stripe reader toinitiate payment for a transaction. In another implementation, the tokenalso includes a memory that may optionally be maintained by the onboardenergy source.

In another implementation, a financial transaction card is provided thathas a substantially rigid substrate not unlike conventional credit cardsand an onboard energy storage device such as a thin-film capacitor. Thecard includes, in one implementation, a conventional or reprogrammablemagnetic stripe assembly that is disposed proximal the substrate. Asmentioned previously, the reprogrammable substrate may be configured bya processor that is commanded through cardholder inputs. In oneimplementation, the cardholder provides input through an array ofcontact pads or blister buttons, and optionally may have access to anon/off button that may turn on the card to accept input, or turn thecard off into a power-saving mode. Alternately, the user input sectionmay include a biometric input device that scans fingerprints or otherbiometric data to authenticate the user of the card, or may have apressure-sensitive area for inputting a predetermined access glyph suchas by a card user dragging a fingertip over a pad to reproduce a symbolthat the card user has previously identified.

In another implementation, the financial transaction token can detectthe presence of an electromagnetic energy source (non-limiting examplesinclude visible or invisible light, RF energy, ionizing radiation,communication signals from a POS terminal, or an electromagnetic field)in proximity to the token's electronics, and can utilize theelectromagnetic field to capture energy to charge the token's internalpower source, operate the token's internal circuitry, or a combinationthereof. If the external electromagnetic energy source becomesinsufficient to power the token's internal electronics, the token mayoptionally switch to the internal energy storage device to supplement orreplace the energy derived from the external electromagnetic field.

Various features and advantages of the invention can be more fullyappreciated with reference to the detailed description and accompanyingdrawings that follow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, objects, and advantages of embodiments of the disclosurewill become more apparent from the detailed description set forth belowwhen taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like elements bearlike reference numerals.

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an exemplary implementation of afinancial transaction token including a data encoding area, a charginginterface, and an energy receiving means;

FIG. 2 illustrates possible alternate implementations of the dataencoding area seen in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A-3B show front and rear views, respectively, of an exemplaryimplementation of a financial transaction token;

FIGS. 3C-3D show front and rear views, respectively, of anotherexemplary implementation of a financial transaction token;

FIGS. 4A-4B show a front and rear views, respectively, of yet anotherexemplary implementation of a financial transaction token;

FIGS. 4C-4D show a front and rear views, respectively, of yet anotherexemplary implementation of a financial transaction token;

FIGS. 5A-5B show illustrations of a pendulum and piezoelectric crystalimplementation of the charging interface seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary process for the use of variouscontemplated implementations a financial transaction token;

FIG. 7 illustrates in perspective view an exemplary implementation of anassembly including an embedded capacitor, a cross section removed forillustration;

FIG. 8 illustrates in perspective view another exemplary implementationof an assembly including a multilayer embedded capacitor, a crosssection removed for illustration;

FIG. 9 illustrates in perspective view a portion of an exemplaryimplementation of an assembly including a multilayer embedded capacitor,a cross section removed for illustration, and showing electrical layerinterconnect in expanded view;

FIG. 10 illustrates in perspective view a portion of another exemplaryimplementation of an assembly including a multilayer embedded capacitorand electrical connection thereof, a cross section removed forillustration;

FIG. 11 illustrates in perspective view an exemplary implementation ofan assembly with a cavity for inserting a capacitor;

FIG. 12 illustrates in perspective view another exemplary implementationof an assembly with a cavity for inserting a capacitor and a backupenergy source;

FIGS. 13A-13B illustrate two additional exemplary embodiments forassemblies comprising financial transaction tokens; and

FIG. 14 illustrates another exemplary process for the use of variouscontemplated implementations a financial transaction token.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A block diagram for an exemplary implementation of a financialtransaction token 100 is seen FIG. 1. The financial transaction token100 comprises an assembly 102 that houses, supports, and/or integratesthe components shown in FIG. 1. Those of skill in the relevant artsunderstand that the assembly 102 may be integrated within a consumerproduct, and nonlimiting examples include cell phones or PDAs such asdepicted in FIGS. 13A and 13B, or, in the alternative, the assembly 102may comprise a financial token such as those depicted in FIGS. 3A-3D and4A-4D. The financial transaction token includes a processor 105, whichthose of skill in the relevant arts will appreciate may comprise amicroprocessor chip, a microcontroller chip, an ASIC, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), a Field Programmable Gate Array, a wired logic chip, ora smart card chip. The processor 105 is coupled to a power circuit 115.The power circuit 115 provides power to the token's electroniccomponents 105, 110, 130, and 145, and may further include signalsindicating charging or connection status. The processor 105 is furthercoupled to signal busses 120, 122, and 125, which those of skill in therelevant arts will recognize may be comprised of a plurality ofindividual dedicated signal circuits, commonly shared signal busses,bidirectional signal circuits, unidirectional signal circuits, orcombinations thereof. In one implementation, signal busses 120, 122, and125 comprise a single commonly shared address/data bus with associatedcontrol signals. The processor is coupled to a memory 110 through signalbus 125. The memory 110 may comprise volatile memory such as CMOS orDRAM memory, nonvolatile memory such as ROM, PROM, EEPROM, flash memory(whether NAND- or NOR-type), or combinations thereof, and such memorymay be included in total or in part upon the same integrated circuitsubstrate as the processor 105. The memory 110, if of volatile type, mayhave its data values preserved by power provided by the connected powercircuit 115. Data stored in memory 110 may include code or programinstructions which, when executed by processor 105. performs at leastpart of command sequence requested by a user through the user interface130.

An onboard energy storage device 150 such as a capacitor is coupled to astored energy circuit 161 which energizes the power circuit 115 throughswitch 152. In one implementation, the switch 152 comprises a hard wiredcircuit coupling the energy storage device 150 to the power circuit 115.Those of skill in the relevant arts will also recognize that energystorage devices such as batteries, inductors, capacitors, orcombinations thereof may be utilized to implement the energy storagedevice 150 in FIG. 1. In one implementation, energy storage device 150comprises a thin film capacitor, and may utilize a single dielectric ora multilayer configuration alternating conducting layers and dielectriclayers. A number of dielectrics such as polyester; polypropylene;polycarbonate; polystyrene; polyimide; polyfunctional acrylics;amorphous hydrogenated carbon; polytetrafluoroethylene; polyxylylene,nitrides of silicon and aluminum, PTFE, PET, and combinations thereofmay be utilized in such thin film capacitor implementations. One featureof such dielectrics that may be valuable in a card-sized form factorwould be at least slight flexibility of the dielectric material,allowing for minor bending forces to distort the shape of the capacitorwithout causing loss of connectivity or damage to the capacitor when thecapacitor is embedded in an assembly such as a financial card.

A substantially planar thin film capacitor implementation is beneficialfor implementation in the instant financial transaction token circuit,as the substantially planar form factor may be applied on a surface of afinancial transaction card or token, or may be wholly or partiallyburied within a cavity defined within the substrate of a financialtransaction card or token 100. Implementation of the energy storagedevice 150 as a single or multilayer capacitor also provides the benefitof avoiding the use of the leakable and potentially dangerouselectrolytes associated with batteries, while also allowing quickrechargeability. With no toxic electrolytes needed in the capacitorimplementation, the financial transaction token 100 may be more safelycarried in a wallet or purse, and may also be disposed of with fewerenvironment toxicity concerns. In another implementation, energy storagedevice 150 may be implemented with any number of conventionalrechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries such as alkaline batteries,lithium ion batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, and nickel metalhydride batteries.

The energy storage device 150, via a coupling 157, is in electricalcommunication with a charging interface 155. Those of skill in therelevant arts will readily recognize that the charging interface 155 maybe implemented with electrical contacts to an external charger, or maycomprise additional electrical components to switch or regulate chargingcurrent provided to the energy storage device 150.

In another implementation, charging interface 155 further includes oneor more piezoelectric crystals electrically connected, via coupling 157,to the energy storage device 150, and a movable pendulum mass thatstrikes the piezoelectric crystals as the token 100 is moved. Turning toFIG. 5A, a piezoelectric charger implementation of the charginginterface 155 is shown. A movable pendulum mass 500 rotates 505,preferably in a substantially planar motion, about a pinned end 510. Thependulum mass 500 also has an impact end 525, that is disposed betweenand may strike either of two piezoelectric crystals 520, 521. As thecrystals 520, 521 are electrically coupled 157 to the energy storagedevice 150, impacts of the pendulum mass 500 cause pulses of current tobe delivered to the energy storage device 150 thus charging the storagedevice 150. FIG. 5B provides an illustration of the pendulum 500 moving506 to strike crystal 521, and likewise, the pendulum mass 500 may movethe opposite direction to strike the other crystal 520.

Returning to FIG. 1, an energy receiving means 158 is also provided, andis electrically coupled via a charging circuit 162 to the charginginterface 155 and the switch 152. The energy receiving means 158, in oneembodiment, is sensitive to electromagnetic energy such as visible orinvisible light, RF energy, ionizing radiation, communication signalsfrom a POS terminal, or an electromagnetic field. In one implementation,the energy receiving means comprises an antenna or an inductor forreceiving power via electromagnetic radiation. The energy receivingmeans 158 may also include one or more photovoltaic cells, which produceelectricity upon exposure to light. When the energy receiving means 158is exposed to an appropriate electromagnetic energy source of sufficientmagnitude, the energy storage device 150 may be charged by the currentprovided by the energy receiving means 158 that was coupled through thecharging interface 158. As the energy receiving means 158 is alsocoupled to an input of the switch 162, the token 100 may be operatedfrom power obtained by the energy receiving means 158. As an example,but not by way of limitation, the feedback circuit 162A provides acoupling for the power control 154 to sense the voltage on the circuit162, so that when the energy receiving means 158 is deliveringsufficient energy to the circuit 162, the power control 154 may operatethe switch 154 to select the externally provided power from the energyreceiving means 158 in lieu of or in addition to the power provided bythe internal energy storage device 150.

The circuit in FIG. 1, in one implementation, comprises an optionalsupplemental energy storage device is provided (not shown in FIG. 1, butshown at least at reference numeral 151 in FIG. 4D). The supplementaldevice 151 may comprise a capacitor as described above in relation toenergy storage device 150, or may comprise any number of conventionalrechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries such as alkaline batteries,lithium ion batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, and nickel metalhydride batteries. The supplemental device 151 may optionally beelectrically coupled to the charging interface 155, though with it maybe charged, or to which it may deliver charging current to charge theenergy storage device 150. The supplemental device 151 may be optionallycoupled to the power control switch 152, so that the power circuit 115may be selectively energized by the energy storage device 150, thesupplemental device 151, or a combination, based on the signal 153provided by power control 154. In one implementation, power control 154is provided through an electrical interface to an accessory (not shown)to the token 100, whereby the accessory commands the switching of powerbased on environmental concerns or by the charge state of the energystorage device 150, which may, in one implementation, be provided by acommand executed by the processor 105. The power control 154 may also beimplemented through conventional voltage sensing circuitry, whereby theswitch 152 may energize the power circuit 115 with either the output ofthe energy storage device 150 or the supplemental energy storage device151 when the charge state of the energy storage device 150 does not meeta predetermined threshold in the voltage sending circuitry. Once thecharge state of the energy storage device 150 is sensed by the powercontrol 154 to have been refreshed to a sufficient predetermined level,the switch 152 may receive a control signal 153 to energize the powercircuit 115 with the energy storage device 150 rather than thesupplemental energy storage device 151. In one embodiment, the powercontrol 154 may sense when neither the energy storage device 150 or thesupplemental energy storage device 151 are capable of deliveringsufficient power for a predetermined period, and may provide input tothe processor 105, allowing execution of commands notifying a user of alow power state and/or prompting the user to provide an external oralternate energy source.

Continuing with FIG. 1, a user interface 130 is also provided, and iscoupled to the power circuit 115 and to the processor 105 via signal bus122. In one implementation, the user interface may include one or moreconventional displays 135 that may output text, graphics, or acombination. The display 135 may be implemented in such formats as aliquid crystal display, a thin film transistor display, touch screen, ororganic LED display. The user interface 130 also includes an optionaldata entry apparatus 140. In one implementation, the data entryapparatus 140 may include an array of buttons labeled in a manner suchas a QWERTY keyboard, a touch pad, a touch screen, or in a moresimplistic implementation, as a telephone touch pad with alphanumerickey assignments. The interface 130 may also receive data from an outsidesource such as a wireless POS terminal, a financial institution, or apersonal computer, and may relay the data to the integrated processor105 through data bus 122. In one implementation, the buttons in the dataentry apparatus 140 may comprise blister buttons commonly known in theart. The user interface 130 may also include an optional on/off buttonthat activates the card for selecting desired account access, performinga calculation, or authenticating a user.

A data encoding area 145 is also provided. The data encoding areareceives data and/or commands for displaying text or graphicalinformation from bus 120, and receives power from power circuit 115. Asthe processor 105 may select the appropriate data based on user input tothe user interface 130, a variety of data may be provided. In oneimplementation, the information provided to the data encoding area 145may comprise health care information, personal identity information,biometric data, music, video data, or a combination thereof, and isconsidered interchangeable with the term “account data” used herein.

Turning to FIG. 2, exemplary implementations 200 of the data encodingarea 145 are shown. Data encoding area 145 is shown with an optionalshielding element 145A, which allows desired electromagnetic, optical,or radiative signals to penetrate while protecting the data encodingarea 145 from physical abuse or damage. The token 100 may optionallyhave areas outside of the data encoding area 145 shielded from physicalabuse or otherwise acceptable forms of electromagnetic radiation. Someof the acceptable signals that are allowed to penetrate the shielding145A and may include, but are not limited to, signals accompanying amagnetic field, RFID signals, IrDA signals, visible light, invisiblelight, modulated laser, and/or modulated RF communication signals. Byway of example and not by way of limitation, selective shielding element145A may comprise a clear plastic shield, conformal coatings, an opaqueplastic shield, or a clear thin film, depending on the implementation ofdata encoding area 145.

Non-limiting examples of the data encoding area are shown at referencenumeral 200, and include a magnetic stripe assembly 210, an antennaand/or transceiver 220, a display 230, and electrical contacts 240, anda touch screen 250. The magnetic stripe assembly 210 may comprise, inone implementation 210A, a reprogrammable magnetic stripe 210B thataccepts data and/or commands from the processor 105 and formats andrenders that data into a form on a magnetic stripe that is readable byconventional merchant magnetic stripe-reading POS terminals. In thismanner, the processor 105 may program a particular account for use in atransaction as a function of user input selecting the account.Alternatively, the processor 105 may erase the magnetic stripe of theassembly 210, rendering the card useless in the event of its loss ortheft. In one implementation shown 210A, the magnetic stripe assembly210B at least partially slidably moves 210C into and out of the assembly102 of the token 100 (partial view shown), allowing the token 100 toconduct a financial transaction at a point of sale terminal thatincludes a magnetic stripe reader.

Continuing with FIG. 2, another implementation of the data encoding area145 is shown as an antenna and/or transceiver 220. The antenna 220 mayinclude commonly used loop inductors such as the one shown 220A or inthose shown in related ISO standards for RF-readable smart cards. Withsuch an interface, account data may be translated, modulated andtransmitted in a manner acceptable by an RF contactless merchantPoint-Of-Service (POS) terminal, a 802.11 WiFi or WiMax network, or by acellular or RF communications network.

The data encoding area 145 may also be represented with a display 230.Account data may be rendered in the form of an optically-readable area,such as a one dimensional or two dimensional bar code 230A. In thismanner, merchant POS terminals may optically scan the display area 230with conventional laser scanners, and obtain account information withoutthe need for expensive contactless RF POS terminals. As the display iselectronically reconfigurable with information provided by the processor105, the token 100 may represent any number of accounts for transactionpayment based on the user's preference and input to the user interface130. Also, as a security feature, the display may be blanked or filledwith a decorative or entertaining graphic when the user has not providedan optional security access code, pad stroke, or pin number to the userinterface 130.

External contacts 240 are yet another alternative implementation of thedata encoding area 145 shown in FIG. 2. With the financial transactiontoken 100 possessing physical contacts such as an array of conductivepads or shapes 240A. the financial transaction token may be placed inphysical contact with a merchant POS terminals, and the externalcontacts 240 may establish connectivity to the merchant's financialprocessing system. The processor 105 may relay account-relatedinformation to the merchant POS terminal through the contact interface,thereby allowing the token 100 to be utilized with the large number ofpreexisting merchant POS terminals that accept smart cards.

Alternatively, the data encoding area 145 may comprise a touch screen250, wherein text and/or graphics may be displayed, and user input maybe accepted by touching selected areas of the screen. For example, butnot by way of limitation, in an implementation shown at referencenumeral 250A, a user is prompted to tap on one of a plurality of accountdescriptors, thereby selecting an account to complete a transaction.Those of skill in the relevant arts also appreciate that tapping thescreen may be combined with using pointing devices such as a joystick,direction buttons, or selection wheels. In one embodiment, a user mayprovide authentication information by touching the display 250 inspecified areas to indicate sequences of pin numbers, selected graphicalelements, or drag strokes that match a predetermined access criterionstored within the storage 110. As with the other implementations 210,220. 230, and 240 of the data encoding area 145, a combination oftechniques may be utilized within the data encoding area 145 to provideflexibility of use and ease of merchant access to account information.

Turning to FIGS. 3A-3D and 4A-4D, various and exemplary implementationsof a financial transaction card 300 are shown. The substrate of the card300 is substantially rigid and thin as are conventional credit or debitcards, and possesses substantially similar dimensions as existingcredit, debit, stored value, or smart cards. In one implementation, thethickness of card 300 exceeds that of conventional credit, debit, orstored value cards in order to accommodate circuitry, electronics,displays, and/or interface elements. The substrate of the card 300contains embedded processor 105 and memory 110, and a circuit topologyas described in regards to the block diagram for token 100 of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 3A, a front side of card 300 is shown with an array of buttons310 and an on/off button 305 comprising elements of the user interface130. The front side of the card 300 also includes a display 135 foroutputting alphanumeric text or graphics, such as an account number andexpiration date. An array of physical contacts 350 is shown, which maybe utilized in conjunction with data entry 140, the data encoding area145, and/or the charging interface 155. Those of skill in the relevantarts will readily appreciate that the contacts 350 shown in FIGS. 3A-3Dmay include more or less electrical contact elements than those showndepending on the particular use, and may be located together orseparately on any side or portion of the card 300 as required bymerchant POS terminals, interoperability requirements, or circuittopology.

FIG. 3C shows a front view of an alternate implementation of card 300,with a similar array of buttons 310 and an on/off button 305 comprisingelements of the user interface 130. An array of physical contacts 350 isshown, which may be utilized in conjunction with data entry 140, thedata encoding area 145, and/or the charging interface 155. A display 135is shown encoding a barcode that may be scanned by an optical scanneravailable at merchant locations, and may relay data from processor 105(embedded, not shown) to provide account-related or other data. Adisplay 230 as part of an implementation of the data encoding area 145is also shown, with a 2-d barcode illustrated that is readable byoptical means to provide account-related or other data that was relayedby the processor 105. Those of skill in the relevant arts will recognizethat such combination of features may be interchanged with thosedescribed in other aspects of the financial transaction token.

FIG. 4A shows a front view of another implementation of card 300, with asimilar array of buttons 310 and an on/off button 305 comprisingelements of the user interface 130. An array of physical contacts 350 isshown, which may be utilized in conjunction with data entry 140, thedata encoding area 145, and/or the charging interface 155. The userinterface 130 of the card shown in FIG. 4A also includes a touch pad ortouch screen 405. The touch pad or screen 405 accepts inputs fromphysical contact by either a stylus, pen, or fingertip, and in oneimplementation, allows a user to provide input such as entering afacsimile of a pre-stored glyph to authorize use of the card.

In one implementation, the user turns on the card by depressing theon/off button 305, then produces a stroke on the pad/screen 405 bydragging a fingertip or stylus across the pad or screen area 405 toreproduce a symbol or glyph substantially similar to a symbolpre-programmed into the processor 105 and memory 110 (embedded, notshown). Once the symbol or glyph is entered by the user on thepad/screen 405, the processor compares its features with a pre-storedgraphical implementation and if the symbol's features are within apredetermined range, the card 300 is enabled for use, otherwise aninvalid entry message is output to display 135 and use is furtherinhibited until the successful glyph or symbol is entered.

FIG. 4C shows a front view of yet another implementation of card 300,with a similar array of buttons 310 and an on/off button 305 comprisingelements of the user interface 130. An array of physical contacts 350 isshown, which may be utilized in conjunction with data entry 140, thedata encoding area 145, and/or the charging interface 155. The userinterface 130 of the card shown in FIG. 4C also includes a touch pad ortouch screen 405. The touch pad or screen 405 accepts inputs fromphysical contact by either a stylus, pen, or fingertip, and in oneimplementation, allows a user to provide input such selecting an accountto be used to provide payment for a transaction, and an indicia of anaccount, such as a bar code, may subsequently be output on a display 135to consummate a transaction.

FIGS. 3B, 3D, 4B, and 4D show rear views of respective implementationsof a financial transaction card 300. The card 300 has a magnetic stripe330 which like conventional magnetic stripe fields, is readable inpreexisting merchant POS terminals or ATMs. The magnetic stripe 330, aspart of the data encoding area 145 and magnetic stripe assembly 210 mayoptionally be programmable by data and commands sent from the embeddedprocessor 105 and memory 110.

Also shown on the card 300 is an optional array of physical contacts350, which, as described above may be utilized in conjunction with dataentry apparatus 140, the data encoding area 145, and/or the charginginterface 155. Those of skill in the relevant arts will also recognizethat other of the aforementioned data encoding elements 145 or userinterface elements 130 may reside on the back surface of the card 300,and this orientation may be preferential to preserve account security orallow additional features on a limited card area.

An energy storage device 150 is shown embedded in the card 300 in FIGS.3B, 3D, and 4D, and may comprise a thin film capacitor. Those of skillin the relevant arts will recognize that such a capacitor may be appliedto the surface of the card 300 as shown in FIG. 4B at reference numeral150 rather than being located within a substrate cavity in the card 300,and may have an optional protective film, conformal coating, orencapsulant added to protect the capacitor. Additional implementationsof the energy storage device 150 will be discussed in more detail belowin regards to FIGS. 7-12. Those of skill in the relevant arts will alsorecognize that an energy storage device 150 may comprise any number ofshapes, not necessarily rectilinear, and may occupy significantly all orpart of the cross sectional area defined by the outer perimeter of thecard 300. In the illustration shown in FIG. 3B, for example, the energystorage device 150 spans covers an area approximately two thirds of thecross-sectional area of the card 300 but could be configured to covermore or less area depending on the amount of energy storage desired andthe particular layout of the card's circuitry. In FIG 3D, the buriedenergy storage device 150 resides under the magnetic stripe 330 and doesnot occupy space in proximity to the physical contacts 350. In anotherembodiment FIG 4D. of card 300, a supplemental energy storage device 151is also included, and optionally may be embedded in the card 300.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary process 600 for the use of variousimplementations of a financial transaction token such as financialtransaction token 100 seen in FIG. 1. In step 610 the financialtransaction token 100 or card 300 is turned on so that the processor 105may assume an active state and operate by retrieving and executingprogram instructions stored in the memory 110. The power-on conditionmay be triggered by one or more of the following conditions: (a)inserting the token 100 or card 300 into a merchant POS terminal andmaking contact between electrical contacts in the token 100 or card 300and the merchant POS terminal; (b) inserting the token 100 or card 300into a user device such as a cell phone, PDA, charger, or accessory; (c)attaching an electrical connector such as a USB or Firewire connector tothe token 100 or card 300; (d) depressing an on/off button 306 and/orholding the on/off button down for a predetermined period of time; (e)depressing a general purpose button 310; (f) touching a touch screen ortouch pad 405; or (g) bringing a token 100 or card 300 equipped with anantenna/transceiver 220 within range of an RF merchant POS terminal.Once the token 100 or card 300 has been turned on, a display 135 or 230may optionally display an indicia that the card is on and ready for useand/or authentication.

In step 620, the user is optionally authenticated, so that lost orstolen cards may not be used by an unauthorized party. Tokens 100 orcards 300 utilizing this step will not be usable to furnish data orcomplete financial transactions until the authentication requirement hasbeen satisfied. The requirement can be met a number of ways: (a) theuser or cardholder drags a fingertip or stylus across the pad or screenarea 405 to reproduce a symbol or glyph substantially similar to asymbol pre-programmed into the processor 105 and memory 110, and oncethe symbol or glyph is entered by the user on the pad/screen 405, theprocessor compares its features with a pre-stored representation of agraphical element to determine that the entered symbol's features arewithin a predetermined range when compared to the pre-storedrepresentation; (b) the user or cardholder enters a pin number orpassphrase into the card's user interface 130 such as by depressing aseries of keys 310 or touching labeled locations on a touch pad or touchscreen 405, and the pin or passphrase matches a respective reference pinor passphrase pre-stored in the memory 110; (c) a biometric aspect ofthe user or cardholder is scanned and compared to a predeterminedbiometric value pre-stored in the memory 110; or (d) the card is used ina preauthorized context such as certain trusted merchants, the identityof which is stored in the memory 110. If authorization fails, the useror cardholder is notified by an optional output on a display 135, andauthorization may be re-attempted. Optionally, if a predetermined numberof unsuccessfully attempts occurs, the token 100 or card 300 is lockedout from further transactions until a reset of the token 100 or card 300occurs by an authorized party. If the optional authorization succeeds,the card is enabled for use.

In optional step 630, the user or cardholder provides input to the token100 or card 300 to conduct an operation such as selecting an account forwhich to provide payment for a transaction, performing a calculation,obtaining stored data, storing new data, or modifying user dataparameters such as a pin number, passphrase, or authorization glyph orsymbol. If no user input is provided, the token 100 or card 300 will beconfigured to a default state, which may include the previous state orcondition of the card when last used. If an account for a transaction ora request for information is selected, the processor 105 obtains therespective data from the memory 110 and renders the to the data encodingarea 145 in a form appropriate for the particular mode of output 200.Thus, a token 100 or card 300 may be configured for a particular use,for instance for a user's personal credit account versus that user'sbusiness account, or for a particular issuers account among many thatare available to the user. For example, if a cardholder's personal Visaaccount was selected, the reprogrammable magnetic stripe 330 could bereprogrammed to provide information related to that personal Visaaccount from the values stored in memory 110.

Once the token 100 or card 300 is ready for use, data is transferred tothe intended destination. This may occur by (a) the user or cardholderreading an output from a display 135; (b) a merchant obtaining datathrough a scan of the magnetic stripe 330; (c) a merchant opticallyscanning a barcode that is displayed in a data encoding area 145; (d) amerchant reading an electromagnetic signal transmitted from the dataencoding area 145; (e) the merchant receiving data through electricalcontacts of the merchant's POS terminal that are in physical contactwith those provided on the token 100 or card 300; or (f) data isobtained through an electrical connector attached to the token 100 orcard 300. Once the data is transferred, for instance, a merchant maycomplete a financial transaction using the data provided by the token100 or card 300.

Optionally, after the data is transferred 640, the token 100 or card 300is secured 650 so that only authorized parties may access the token 100or card 300 and then turned off 660 so that the processor 105 may assumea standby state to conserve energy on the onboard energy storage device150. This optional securing step 650 and the poweroff step 660 may beinitiated through one or more of the following techniques: (a) allowinga predetermined period of time to pass without inputting any informationto the user interface 130; (b) removing the token 100 or card 300 fromcontact a merchant POS terminal; (c) breaking contact between electricalcontacts in the token 100 or card 300 and a merchant POS terminal,charging device, external power source, or conventional electricalconnector (e.g., USB (Universal Serial Bus) or Firewire™ (IEEE 1394)) orsingle wire protocol in the case of a smart card chip; (d) removing thetoken 100 or card 300 from a user device such as a cell phone. PDA,charger, or accessory; (e) depressing an on/off button 305 and/orholding the on/off button down for a predetermined period of time; (f)depressing a predetermined sequence of general purpose buttons 310; (f)touching a predetermined area of touch screen or touch pad 405; or (g)removing the token 100 or card 300 equipped with an antenna/transceiver220 from the range of an RF merchant POS terminal. Once the appropriatecondition has occurred to initiate shutdown, optionally, the token 100or card 300 erases its reprogrammable magnetic stripe 330, refusesadditional inputs except power on and/or authentication inputs, and/orencrypts data stored in the memory 110. Optionally, an indicia may beoutput to a display 135, indicating that the card is locked and secured.

Turning to FIG. 7, a perspective view an exemplary implementation of anassembly 102 including an embedded single-layer capacitor is shown. Thedimensions 730, 740, and 750 of the substantially planar substrate 760may approximate the dimensions of a conventional credit card, withpossible deviations to incorporate additional features or elements. Aportion 700 of the substrate 760 has been removed from the drawing toillustrate a cross section of a portion of the assembly 102. Within thesubstrate 760 of the assembly 102 is embedded a capacitor 150. In theillustrated implementation, the capacitor comprises a pair ofsubstantially planar and parallel conductive electrodes 710, 720,separated by a substantially planar dielectric layer 730. The dielectricutilized may be selected based upon with the requirements of theapplication, and for example, but not by way of limitation, may comprisepolyester; polypropylene; polycarbonate; polystyrene; polyimide;polyfunctional acrylics; amorphous hydrogenated carbon;polytetrafluoroethylene; polyxylylene, nitrides of silicon and aluminum,PTFE, PET, and combinations thereof. Although a single capacitor 150 isshown, those of skill in the relevant arts appreciate that two or morecapacitors may be embedded within the assembly 102. Those of skill inthe relevant arts also appreciate that the dielectric 730 may becomprised of the same or a different material than the substrate 760 ofthe assembly 102. Those of skill in the relevant arts understand thatthe capacitor 150 may comprise a thin film capacitor. The capacitor 150is interconnected to the token 100 as described in relation to FIG. 1above.

Turning to FIG. 8 a perspective view an exemplary implementation of anassembly 102 including an embedded multi-layer capacitor is shown.Similarly to FIG. 7, the assembly 102 comprises a substantially planarsubstrate 760 which may approximate the dimensions of a conventionalcredit card, with possible deviations to incorporate additional featuresor elements. A portion 700 of the substrate 760 has been removed fromthe drawing to illustrate a cross section of a portion of the assembly102. Within the substrate 760 is included a multilayer capacitor 150,which is comprised of an even number of conductive electrodes, and inthe illustrated implementation, six electrodes are used (800, 801, 802,803, 804, and 805), although those of skill in the relevant artsunderstand that more or fewer electrodes could be used. Similarly toFIG. 7, the electrodes are conductive, and are substantially planar andparallel, and are separated by a dielectric as described in more detailin regards to FIG. 9.

Turning to FIG. 9, a closer prospective view is provided of a portion ofthe substrate 760 of the assembly 102 shown in FIG. 8. A cross-sectionalview of the layer stack 900 is enlarged to show detail, and illustratesa cross section of substantially planar and parallel conductiveelectrodes (800, 801, 802, 803, 804, and 805) separated by a dielectric920. Those of skill in the relevant arts appreciate that the dielectric920 may comprise the same or different substance than the material thatcomprises the bulk of the substrate 760. The material comprising thebulk of the substrate 760, whether or not comprised of the same materialas the dielectric 920, may cover the top 910 and cover the bottom 930 ofthe capacitor stack 900. The layer stack 900 may comprise a thin filmmultilayer capacitor, and/or may be constructed by alternativeapplication of conductive layers and dielectric layers, assembly ofsuccessive conductive/dielectric layers, inclusion of a pre-assembledcapacitor assembly, or by a combination of stacking conductive layers,dielectric layers, and conductive layers that are in whole or partoxidized. Those of skill in the relevant arts also appreciate that amultilayer capacitor can be formed from any even number of four or morealternatively interconnected conductive electrodes with interveningdielectrics, and in some embodiments may comprise thousands of layers,thereby providing for capacitances in the value ranges of picroFarads toseveral Farads.

Continuing with FIG. 9, an interconnection of the capacitor 150 is alsoprovided. The conductive electrodes (800, 801, 802, 803, 804, and 805)are disposed to create non-fully overlapping zones 901, 902, in whichonly alternate conductive electrodes overlap. For example, in zone 901,only the odd-numbered conductive electrode planes 801, 803, and 805overlap, and in zone 902, only the even-numbered planes 800, 802, and804 overlap. Therefore, conductive vertical columns, or vias, 940, mayprovide for interconnection in the partial overlap zones 901, 902. Asthe vias 940 contact the conductive layers through which they penetrate,a multilayer capacitor can be formed by connecting the vias within thezone 901 to one polarity of the capacitor circuit, and the vias withinzone 902 to the opposite polarity in the capacitor circuit. Those ofskill in the relevant arts appreciate that the vias 940 may comprise,but not by way of limitation, any shape of conductive substance such ascopper, aluminum, tin, solder, or conductive paste, and may be formed byany number of techniques including a drill-and-plate process or by anetch and fill process. The capacitor 150 is coupled to the circuitry ofthe token 100 as described in relation to FIG. 1 above.

Turning to FIG. 10, an alternative embodiment of the interconnectionapproach shown in FIG. 9 is illustrated. Again, a portion of thesubstrate 760 of the assembly 102 shown with layers of the capacitor 150appearing, but the interconnection in zones 901, 902, are incommunication with approximately rectilinearly-shaped conductivechannels 1000 that electrically connect alternating conductive layers asdescribed in relation to FIG. 9. Similarly to FIG. 9, dielectric isdisposed between each of the substantially parallel planar electrodes,forming a capacitor 150. Those of skill in the relevant arts appreciatethat the conductive channels 1000 may comprise, but not by way oflimitation, any shape of conductive substance such as copper, aluminum,tin, solder, or conductive paste, and may be formed by any number oftechniques including a drill-and-plate process or by an etch and fillprocess.

Turning to FIG. 11, a perspective view of an implementation of theassembly 102 is shown. Similarly to FIG. 7, the assembly 102 comprises asubstantially planar substrate 760 which may approximate the dimensionsof a conventional credit card, with possible deviations to incorporateadditional features or elements. The assembly 102 further comprises arecess or void 1100, which is sized to receive an energy storage device150 such as a capacitor. Once the device 150 is installed In the recess1100, a flush or substantially flush fit allows the application of asubstantially planar top layer (not shown) to the top surface of thesubstrate 760 to cover the installed device 150. In one embodiment, thedevice 150 comprises a thin film capacitor, interconnected to thecircuitry of FIG. 1 as described in relation thereto.

Turning to FIG. 12, an alternative perspective view of an implementationof the assembly 102 is shown. Similarly to FIG. 7, the assembly 102comprises a substantially planar substrate 760 which may approximate thedimensions of a conventional credit card, with possible deviations toincorporate additional features or elements. The assembly 102 furthercomprises a recess or void 1100, which is sized to receive energystorage device 150, and supplemental energy storage device 151. Once thedevices 150, 151 are installed in the recess 1100, a flush orsubstantially flush fit allows the application of a substantially planartop layer (not shown) to the top surface of the substrate 760 to coverthe installed device 150. In one embodiment, the energy storage device150 comprises a thin film capacitor and supplemental energy storagedevice 151 comprises a backup battery, both of which are interconnectedto the circuitry of FIG. 1 as described in relation thereto.

Turning to FIG. 13A, an alternate implementation of the token 100 isshown as a communications device such as a cell phone. The assembly 102includes a slot 323 for a financial card 300 (nonlimiting embodiments ofwhich are shown in FIGS. 3A-3D, 4A-4D), or optionally, the financialcard 300 is permanently or semi-permanently integrated within thehardware of the token 100. The token 100 has a display 230, and a dataentry keypad 140, allowing interaction with the assembly 102 to acceptuser commands. As mentioned previously, the token 100 may be used tocomplete a financial transaction without removing card 300, or the token100 may configure the card 300, using commands entered through the userinterface 130, to select a particular transaction payment account to betransmitted to the token through the internal electrical interface (notshown). In a similar spirit, FIG. 7B illustrates another implementationof the token 100, shown as a consumer device such as a personal digitalassistant (PDA). The assembly 102 includes a slot 323 for a financialtoken 300, or optionally, the financial token 300 is permanently orsemi-permanently integrated within the hardware of the token 100. Thetoken 100 has a touch screen display 250A for entry and output ofcommands and data, a data buttons and pads 140. As mentioned above, thetoken 100 may also be used to complete a financial transaction withoutremoving card 300, or the token 100 may configure the card 300, usingcommands entered through the user interface 130, to select a particulartransaction payment account to be transmitted to the token through theinternal electrical interface (not shown).

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary process 1400 for the use of variousimplementations of a financial transaction token such as financialtransaction token 100 seen in FIG. 1 or the financial card 300. In step1410 the financial transaction token 100 or card 300 is exposed to anelectromagnetic energy source such as visible or invisible light, RFenergy, ionizing radiation, communication signals from a POS terminal,or an electromagnetic field. Alternatively, the energy receiving means158 of the financial token 100 or card 300 is separately exposed to suchan electromagnetic energy source, which may be the case if the token 100possesses an external antenna comprising the energy receiving means 158.In step 1420 the electromagnetic energy from the external source iscaptured by the energy receiving means 158 and delivered to thecircuitry of the token 100 or card 300. In one implementation, but notby way of limitation, such energy capturing and conversion may occur bycoupling an electromagnetic magnetic field through an inductor,electromagnetic radiation through an antenna, or light through aphotovoltaic cell.

In step 1430, the token 100 or card 300 senses a change in voltageand/or current in the output of the energy receiving means 158, and ifthis change indicates that a sufficient external electromagnetic energysource is available to power the token 100 or card 300 through theenergy receiving means 158, a switch may be optionally operated toenable the energy receiving means 158 to provide operating power to theelectronic components 145, 105, 130, 150, 154, 155, 151, of the token100 or card 300. Such operating power may be supplemented by the energystorage device 150, or supplemental energy storage device 151, byoperating the switch 152 to select the desired energy source orcombination of sources.

Upon sensing 1430 the change in conditions, the token 100 or card 300becomes active 1440, allowing its electronic circuitry 145, 105, 130,150, 154, 155, 151, to be operated so as to initiate or complete afinancial transaction. For example, in optional step 1450, a user isqueried through the user interface 130 to select an account for use in atransaction. If no selection was offered, a default account may beselected in lieu of user input.

Once the account choice is entered or default account data selected, thetoken 100 or card 300 is configured with the appropriate account-relatedinformation to enable the token 100 or card 300 to be used to providepayment for a financial transaction. As non-limiting examples, accountinformation may be provided to and rendered in the data encoding area145, such as by displaying a bar code representing the accountinformation, transmitting an RF communication signal indicating accountinformation to a POS terminal, transmitting a modulated light beamindicating account information to a POS terminal, displaying an accountnumber, or providing electrical signals for electrical contacts incommunication with a POS terminal.

In step 1470, a voltage and/or current change is sensed by the token 100or card 300 in the charging circuit 162. This change, in one embodiment,indicates an undesirable fluctuation or decline of the charging circuit162 voltage, or may otherwise comprises sensed conditions that indicatethat the external electromagnetic energy source that is providing powerto the energy receiving means 158 is no longer sufficient to provideoperating power to the electronic components 145, 105, 130, 150, 154,155, 151, of the card 100 or token 300. Such may be the case if thetoken 100 or card 300 is being removed from proximity to a POS terminal,or when light provided to a photovoltaic cell of the token 100 or card300 is being interrupted, or if the token 100 or card 300 is beingremoved from a wireless charger. In these cases, the switch 152 may beoperated to energize 1480 the power circuit 115 with energy provided by,in whole or part, the energy storage device 150 and/or supplementaldevice 151. In this manner, the token 100 or card 300 may continue tooperate when externally provided energy is insufficient or otherwiseinhibited.

Step 1490 optionally indicates a step that when the token 100 or card300 is switched to an internal energy source under a loss of sufficientexternal electromagnetic energy. In this case the user is promptedthrough the user interface 130 whether the token 100 or card 300 is tobe shut down or otherwise placed into an inactive state. If the user sospecifies by entering an indicia through the user interface 130, theprocessor 105 takes action to bring the processor into an inactive stateor energy conserving mode. Optional step 1495 also depicts a conditionwhere the processor 105 of the token 100 or card 300 begins a countdownsequence upon the switching 1480 to the internal source 150 and/or 151.The purpose of this countdown is to turn off the token 100 or card 300after a predetermined time interval if the internal energy source isenabled and the token 100 or card 300 is not in use, thereby preventinginadvertent discharge of the power source 150 and/or 151. The user may,through the user interface 130, abort the timeout automatic shutdown byentering any that the token 100 or card 300 is to remain in activecondition.

The steps of a method, process, or algorithm described in connectionwith the implementations disclosed herein may be embodied directly inhardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in acombination of the two. The various steps or acts in a method or processmay be performed in the order shown in FIG. 6, or 14 or may be performedin another order. Additionally, one or more process steps may be omittedor one or more process steps may be added to the processes. Anadditional step, block, or action may be added in the beginning, end, orintervening existing elements of such processes.

The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enableany person of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosure.Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intendedto be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded thewidest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosedherein.

1-36. (canceled)
 37. A method for powering a token, wherein the tokenincludes a power circuit that powers components of the token, an energystorage device coupled to the power circuit, and one or morepiezoelectric crystals, the method comprising: generating, by the token,electrical current from a moving pendulum mass striking the one or morepiezoelectric crystals of the token; charging, by the token, the energystorage device with the generated electrical current; selecting, by thetoken, the energy storage device as an energy source for the token; andenergizing, by the token, the power circuit with energy stored in theenergy storage device.
 38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:sensing, by the token, electromagnetic radiation from an externalsource; and in response to sensing the electromagnetic radiation fromthe external source, selecting, by the token, the electromagneticradiation as the energy source for the token; and energizing, by thetoken, the power circuit with the electromagnetic radiation from theexternal source.
 39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:sensing, by the token, a decline in the electromagnetic radiation fromthe external source; in response to sensing the decline in theelectromagnetic radiation from the external source, selecting, by thetoken, the energy storage device as the energy source for the token; andenergizing, by the token, the power circuit with the energy stored inthe energy storage device instead of the electromagnetic radiation. 40.The method of claim 37, wherein the energy storage device is acapacitor.
 41. The method of claim 40, wherein the capacitor is amultilayer capacitor that includes at least three conductive electrodes.42. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least three conductiveelectrodes are planar conductive electrodes, and alternate layers of theplanar conductive electrodes are electrically coupled with each other.43. The method of claim 41, wherein the multilayer capacitor includes afirst set of planar conductive electrodes interleaved with a second setof planar conductive electrodes, the multilayer capacitor furtherincludes a first non-overlapping region where the first set of planarconductive electrodes does not overlap with the second set of planarconductive electrodes, and a second non-overlapping region where thesecond set of planar conductive electrodes does not overlap with thefirst set of planar conductive electrodes.
 44. The method of claim 43,wherein the first set of planar conductive electrodes are electricallycoupled with each other by a first set of one or more vertical viaslocated at the first non-overlapping region, and the second set ofplanar conductive electrodes are electrically coupled with each other bya second set of one or more vertical vias located at the secondnon-overlapping region.
 45. The method of claim 37, wherein the pendulummass rotates about a pinned end to strike the one or more piezoelectriccrystals.
 46. The method of claim 45, wherein the pendulum mass rotatesabout the pinned end in a planar motion to strike the one or morepiezoelectric crystals.
 47. A token comprising: a power circuit thatpowers components of the token; an energy storage device coupled to thepower circuit; one or more piezoelectric crystals; and a pendulum mass;the token configured to: generate electrical current from the pendulummass moving to strike the one or more piezoelectric crystals of thetoken; charge the energy storage device with the generated electricalcurrent; select the energy storage device as an energy source for thetoken; and energizing the power circuit with energy stored in the energystorage device.
 48. The token of claim 47, further configured to: senseelectromagnetic radiation from an external source; in response tosensing the electromagnetic radiation from the external source,selecting, the electromagnetic radiation as the energy source for thetoken; and energizing the power circuit with the electromagneticradiation from the external source.
 49. The token of claim 48, furtherconfigured to: sense a decline in the electromagnetic radiation from theexternal source; in response to sensing the decline in theelectromagnetic radiation from the external source, select the energystorage device as the energy source for the token; and energize thepower circuit with the energy stored in the energy storage deviceinstead of the electromagnetic radiation.
 50. The token of claim 47,wherein the energy storage device is a capacitor.
 51. The token of claim50, wherein the capacitor is a multilayer capacitor that includes atleast three conductive electrodes.
 52. The token of claim 51, whereinthe at least three conductive electrodes are planar conductiveelectrodes, and alternate layers of the planar conductive electrodes areelectrically coupled with each other.
 53. The token of claim 51, whereinthe multilayer capacitor includes a first set of planar conductiveelectrodes interleaved with a second set of planar conductiveelectrodes, the multilayer capacitor further includes a firstnon-overlapping region where the first set of planar conductiveelectrodes does not overlap with the second set of planar conductiveelectrodes, and a second non-overlapping region where the second set ofplanar conductive electrodes does not overlap with the first set ofplanar conductive electrodes.
 54. The token of claim 53, wherein thefirst set of planar conductive electrodes are electrically coupled witheach other by a first set of one or more vertical vias located at thefirst non-overlapping region, and the second set of planar conductiveelectrodes are electrically coupled with each other by a second set ofone or more vertical vias located at the second non-overlapping region.55. The token of claim 47, wherein the pendulum mass rotates about apinned end to strike the one or more piezoelectric crystals.
 56. Thetoken of claim 55, wherein the pendulum mass rotates about the pinnedend in a planar motion to strike the one or more piezoelectric crystals.